Hasbro endorses 3D printing by fans, starting with MLP

[Neverhoodian]

Bronies rejoice! After laying the smackdown [http://www.equestriadaily.com/2013/06/hasbro-copyright-claims-hashbronys-3d.html] on fanmade MLP figurines last year, Hasbro has officially partnered with 3D printing website Shapeways to endorse such creations (provided it meets their standards, of course. Sorry cloppers, no Rule 34 here).

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/business/hasbro-selling-my-little-pony-fan-art.html?_r=1&referrer=

"We have been investigating 3-D printing for quite a while, as have many people," said John Frascotti, chief marketing officer at Hasbro. "What 3-D printing truly empowers is the creation of artwork that maybe wouldn't make sense for mass production, but it makes sense for a unique item."

Don't care for MLP? Not to worry, this is apparently just the beginning of a broader strategy:

Hasbro hopes to expand the partnership to include more artists, more of its brands and other materials, given that Shapeways prints using everything from high-end plastics for iPhone cases, to gold for jewelry and ceramic for coffee cups.

The advent of 3-D printing has created enormous potential for sales, but it also creates a raft of new opportunity for theft, especially of intellectual property. Why go out and buy a doll if you can just print one yourself? But instead of snapping a tight lid over its characters, Hasbro's collaboration with Shapeways may extend the reach of its trademarks while keeping control of what is associated with the brand.

I think it's cool to see a corporation like Hasbro embrace fan creations like this (even if they originally shut it down). Imagine if other companies decide to follow suit. Perhaps this is the start of a larger trend? [footnote]You know, Hasbro, I wouldn't mind some Beast Wars figurines. Just sayin'.[/footnote]

 

[Esotera]

Yeah, I give it a week before someone subverts the designs and makes them sexual.

But this is pretty cool, I don't see 3D printing as doing massive harm for the immediate future, so it's worth getting the goodwill of hobbyists (like Nokia did with printing phone cases). Hell, it's worth doing it just for the free publicity. Once it does become mainstream, customising anything you buy would be absolutely awesome...

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Yep, I can only see this ending well


Very... very well

 

[Ylla]

SEXUAL? you mean like ponies with... holes? REALLY?
I was going to google it, but i dont have the stomach

 

[Keoul]

Yeah, I give it a week before someone subverts the designs and makes them sexual.

Woah there! They'll probably be done making them in a day!

Well I can only imagine how long it's going to take before they withdraw their support and bring back the ole "you wouldn't download a car" kinda deal.

 

[Malbourne]

It seems like they were paying attention to the needs of fans, but equally likely is the possibility that this was planned quite a while back. That said, "broader strategy" is just icing on the cake in this article for me. Let's see what a big company like Hasbro can do with a collaboration on something like 3D printing.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Yeah, I give it a week before someone subverts the designs and makes them sexual.

Woah there! They'll probably be done making them in a day!

Well I can only imagine how long it's going to take before they withdraw their support and bring back the ole "you wouldn't download a car" kinda deal.

Apparently submissions will go through a screening and approval process by Hasbro, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Of course, nobody's stopping someone from creating their own Rule 34 figurines. Just don't be surprised if those creators find themselves with a C&D on their hands if they try to sell them.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Of course, nobody's stopping someone from creating their own Rule 34 figurines. Just don't be surprised if those creators find themselves with a C&D on their hands if they try to sell them.

"Put, they aren't MLP figurines, they are just generic ponies!"

This sort of thing comes to mind (though it's not sexual)

http://heresyminiatures.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=152&zenid=cac2870036727d466852f204d5cf87c4

 

[FPLOON]

SEXUAL? you mean like ponies with... holes? REALLY?
I was going to google it, but i dont have the stomach

*cough*thatLyraplushie*cough*

OT: Awesome! Now, to think of a bunch of MLP character concepts that transform into various Strawberry Shortcake/Care Bear characters... (akin to how a Transformer works, of course...)

What? I'm just covering as many Hasbro bases as possible without spilling into the board game territory...